Remus woke early the next morning, somehow not tired, and headed off to breakfast early. There were only a few early risers in the Great Hall, but Remus preferred the quiet of it to the normal noisy chatter, as it gave him time to sort over his thoughts and feelings. He was wondering if he should wait for James to apologize first; Remus himself had practically accused Sirius of murder, so maybe he was in the wrong. This train of thought was interrupted by a blonde haired girl collapsing into the seat next to Remus, her bag bulging out at odd angles.

"Good morning," Remus said unfocusedly.

"Good morning!" was her cheery reply. "I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you yet! What's your name?"

Doesn't know of me? James and Sirius' names are always buzzing the school, Remus thought, usually with Peter or my name tagged on the end. Nevertheless, he replied back to her, not wanting to make a bad impression on someone who was unspoiled of the rumors that were constantly passing the school about Remus. "I'm Remus Lupin. And you are..?"

"Minette Espoir-Douleur! I just transferred here! It's nice to meet you, Remus!"

Remus nearly choked on the bit of toast he had been munching on. Minette. She was the one who had started this all, when she was injured in the Forest. Remus felt a pang of anger toward her, but then reasoned that it wasn't really her fault that he had stirred up trouble with Sirius and James. It really was Remus' own fault. The only friends that he'd ever had...and he had probably ruined it. His hazel eyes became dull and full of grief. Minette, however, hadn't seemed to notice.

"I was wondering, how do things work around here? I haven't been to any classes yet. You see, I was attacked in the woods, and-"

"Attacked? Were you really?" Remus marveled. "I mean, yes, my friends and I heard what happened from those girls that helped you to the hospital wing."

"Yes, well, I'm still confused about it... it seems such a blur."

Lupin wasn't entirely convinced by this, but he had enough to think about, and didn't want to get in another nasty situation by jumping to conclusions. That had gotten him far enough.

"But," Minette's voice cut into Remus' thoughts once more, "I was wondering if you could help me figure out where some of my classes are. I've been put in Gryffindor, and today I have, um," she looked at her schedule, "Potions first."

"Yes," Remus said with a half-false cheeriness, "I'm in Gryffindor, as well, and we have all our classes together. We can get started now, if that's okay, and I could show you around a bit before class."

"That'd be great!" Minette's blue eyes widened and sparkled. "Thank you so much, Remus!"

The two of them walked off into the castle together. Remus showed Minette how to get to some of their later classes, and described the classes to her. "You could be a teacher, yourself, Remus!" Minette teased him. When the time rolled around, they headed down to the Potions dungeon where many of the Gryffindors and Slytherins were assembled.

"Hello, there, Moo-er-Remus!" James called out as he saw them approaching. "Have you gotten new friends to replace us, then?"

Remus could not exactly tell if James was joking or not, so he chose to ignore this comment. "This is Minette, she just came here and got put in Gryffindor with us. Minette, this is James, Sirius, and Peter," Remus said as he gestured toward each of them. He saw Sirius go slightly pale again, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Nice to meet you, Minette," Sirius said with his normal amount of cool reinstated.

"Nice to meet you all," Minette smiled and nodded her head.

"Stop all the chatter now!" Professor Diggle's strong voice boomed across the classroom. "Your instructions are on the board, partner up, and get started."

"Remus took his normal seat with Peter, then realized Minette would not have a partner. But Remus couldn't leave Peter; he wasn't mad at him, really, and the situation was bad enough. Luckily, Kingsley's partner was gone that day, so he gladly became her partner. Remus felt relief sweep over him as this happened. This was too many friendships to be at risk at once. He felt like he was trying to make several potions at once, and they were all bubbling over the brim. Most people would not become so stressed over a matter like this, especially the people he was thinking of. James and Sirius were loved by everyone in the school, and Minette seemed to be very friendly and extroverted. For Remus, though, this was always at the front of his mind. His lycanthropy had kept him from going outside very much, let alone making friends. When Professor Dumbledore had persuaded the headmaster to let Remus attend the school, it seemed more than he had ever imagined his life could amount to. Then he had managed to make friends, and keep them even after his façade had dissolved. So, naturally, when this idyllic state was threatened, Remus diverted as much attention to it as he could. He often overanalyzed, even, and threatened the situation further. Remus was still trying to sort things out, but then remembered he was supposed to be concocting a potion with Peter, and hurriedly started to work.

His and Peter's potions turned out rather well. They were not the opaque emerald-like color that they were supposed to be exactly, but Remus was sure that they would get a good enough grade. At the end of the class, all of them picked up their books and left the classroom together. None of them talked in-between classes, and Remus continued to fret about their argument. After their third class, they had a break and all went to their normal spot under the beech tree on the grass. Remus felt his stomach clench. This, he thought, would have to be the deciding moment. Should I bring it up, or just talk normally..?

"So, Minette," James broke the silence, "we heard about that nasty wound you got. Are you feeling better?"

"Oh, yes, much!" Minette replied, happily as ever, apparently unaware of the tension between the others she sat with. "That Madame Pomfrey of yours is wonderful! I so prefer magic medicines to muggle ones!"

"Oh, are you a muggle-born, then?" Sirius asked with interest.

"Half and half. My father's a wizard, but my mother's a muggle."

"That's interesting. Say, where were you going to before you came to Hogwarts? It's not common for someone to transfer here."

"I was going to a smaller boarding school in the U.S., actually. But I came here because they had to shut down. I think they had money issues." Minette added thoughtfully. "But I like it here better. This is my home country, after all!"

The five of them chatted for a while longer, told a little about themselves, although not too much on Remus' part. After quite a while Minette jumped up.

"I have to go finish some of the make up work! I completely forgot, but since I missed the first two days, I had to write an essay for History of Magic! I'll see you all later!" All of them had jumped up when Minette did, and now relaxed slightly as she took a few strides away.

"Heh. Any second now," Sirius muttered so only Remus, Lupin, and James could here him.

"What are you talking about, Sirius?" Remus looked confusedly at his friend.

"You really think a girl like her could really talk to all of us attractive guys and not ask one of us out? She's playing it nonchalant. Any second, she'll turn around, call out one of our names, run over, and ask whoever out. Probably me. She was eyeing me the entire time, didn't you notice?"

Sirius gave a sort of subtle 'I-told-you-so' look and put on his most charming smile as Minette turned around just as Sirius had predicted and called out "Oh, Sirius!"

She strode back over to him, looking-wait, was she angry? Maybe it was all in Remus' head. She came closer and closer to Sirius, and then-

WHAM.

Sirius had been slapped. Not just slapped, slapped in the face. His flawless face now had a large, red handprint on it. Sirius looked as though he had been-well-slapped in the face. Remus thought Sirius could not have been more insulted if James had slapped him instead of Minette. She, it was clearer now, looked very angry, and leaned in so that she was whispering in Sirius' ear, although the others could hear her.

"I suggest that if you're an unregistered animagus and have just attacked a girl in the woods, you don't transform in front of her."

Sirius' face looked slightly less insulted just to make room on it for a panicked look. "Wait," He said, grabbing her arm. "You are not to tell anyone of that!" he practically yelped at her.

"Oh, of course I won't!" Minette said, her anger disappearing and her voice almost apologetic. "I'm not stupid, you could go to Azkaban! Anyway, that was just something for you to think about." Minette strode off once again to the castle.

UsagiGirl: I hope you're enjoying it all so far! I've had this part about Minette hitting Sirius in my head for quite a while, and, although it doesn't quite fit in with her personality, I had to include it. Please review, it really means a lot to me!